BROOKLANDS Museum is making a pitch to inherit one of British Airways’ redundant supersonic Concorde aircraft now that the prestige flag-carrier is to be grounded permanently.

Curator of aviation at Brooklands Julian Temple has confirmed the approach has been made and he is now developing a logistical plan to transport the aircraft to the birthplace of British Aviation. “Although a number of Concordes are, of course, capable of flight, the runway we have available at Brooklands is totally inadequate to bring in such a aircraft,” he says. “It would have to come by road and that poses a considerable challenge given the restrictions of the network around Byfleet.” He remains determined to capture the prize however as no other site in the UK or France deserves to display this most beautiful of flying machines more. Sir George Edwards, who died earlier this year, was chief of the British Aircraft Corporation when the joint Franco-British dream to go supersonic with a passenger aircraft was initiated. His office and top management and technical team were all based on the Byfleet Road. Sir George, who lived in Guildford, cajoled and lobbied the British and French governments as designs got underway in the Brooklands drawing offices. Historic meetings were held at the vast site that employed thousands in its heyday. When Concorde finally went into production the majority and most critical parts of the airframe and electronic systems were manufactured at Brooklands and then transported to plants in France and Bristol. At least 60 per cent of every Concorde that flew came out of Brooklands — a fact the aircraft often acknowledges by dipping its wings as it flies over the historic 1907 clubhouse on its mid-morning flight to New York. Despite its important role in creating the miracle no Concorde has ever been to Brooklands. If Julian achieves his objective Concorde will arrive at the place of its conception for the first time and will no doubt prove a massive draw attracting international visitors to the Museum.